Out of the Darkness and Into the Light

It is amazing that some people believe what is done in the darkness will remain hidden. Many people are nocturnal by nature, dwelling in the corridors of darkness where they are hidden from the light of exposure. Darkness can leave you blind and lost, spiritually and metaphorically speaking. It can make you feel fearful and insecure. Even in the depths of the blanket of nightfall, without the light of the moon or twinkling stars, you can wander around aimlessly, bumping into or stumbling over the smallest of things that can trigger the most pain.

At times, people and situations want to suck you into their world of darkness, only to keep you hidden from the light of safety, peace, love, revelation and hope! As we follow our Biblical principles, we know that Jesus is the Light of the World. As we dwell in our physical world, pause and examine whether you want to light up someone else’s life or do you want to shadow their world with darkness. It’s clear to see that your attitude, behavior and influence can either brighten someone’s night or darken their day.

Diversion from Distractions

When most of us rang in 2012, we did so with great anticipation, gratitude and jubilation. Come on now, we were blessed and able to see another new year. Thank God for that! After getting up later in the morning on this first day, we were hit with news of the first murder in the city, a story on the front page in a section of the newspaper reporting a bleak outlook on the economy for this year and low and behold, there is an arsonist on a rampage torching cars and homes. A few of the anchors on television said, “Well the new year is off to a bad start!”

After reading the depressing newspaper article and watching the news on television, I listened to a sermon televised by Dr. Charles Stanley that gave the message “Confidence That Conquers!” His main points emphasized the type of attitude that is not conducive to confidence and the positive attitudes that attribute to confidence. He pointed out that we must not confuse confidence with arrogance. Big difference! Here are 3 points that stood out in my mind:

1. We can be self-defeaters

2. Your past should not be in front of you

3. Confidence is based on your relationship with God

If I wallow in the predictions that the economy looks less optimistic this year than before, then I will think that and believe it. If I buy into the notion that this year is off to a bad start because I heard of the first murder and someone setting fires to property that people worked hard to buy, then I will feel depressed and adopt the attitude that this year is really off to a bad start.

I am certainly not naïve to the fact that this year will present some very positive things, and along with it, there will be some challenges. However, I will not mull over the adversity as much as I will keep my focus on what God has divinely designed and has in store for me and for us. I am not insensitive to the tragic things that are happening around me, because we all have and will face tragedy at some point and time in our lives.

So in spite of the not-so-great news on this first day, there was the first birth of the new year, the excitement of the people who celebrated the new year all around the world and the fact that I was blessed and able to rise and see a brand new day that I never witnessed before. That is hope! That is my start, my “good” start to a brand new year!

Happy 2012 Everyone!

Just as the sun rises above the horizon, so comes our anticipation and excitement of the opportunities and possibilities that 2012 will bring. We embrace this defining moment as we stand at the intersection of 2011 and 2012. As we glance back at the road we traveled in 2011, we realize that there is no turning back. Right now we have to face 2012 with courage, hope and determination. Amid the ups and downs, joys and sorrows and the roller coaster of emotions that we face, we still look forward to this new year of promise. We can't sit back and idly watch things happen, then find ourselves in the same place or in a worse predicament this time next year. You can't expect new and different results with the same old attitude and behavior. If you want to change, you have to make the effort and do it!

On that note...Happy New Year Everyone!

Have You Ever Seen the Rainbow in a Drop of Water?

Condensation periodically builds up on my windows throughout the night, which is not an uncommon occurrence. Sometimes, when you least expect it, you will look at something and it makes you go “hmmm”. This happened this morning as I walked past one of my windows. Although this particular window does not face the sun directly, an iridescent prism from a single drop of water on the window reflected so majestically, that I had to back up and examine it closely.

Somehow, the sun’s reflection indirectly permeated one of the water drops on my window and an amazingly sharp prism of colors beamed like the facets in a diamond. It was definitely one of those “stop, look and reflect” moments. If I simply ignored that water drop, I would have missed this amazing performance of the sun dancing in all of its grandeur, on a single drop of water that seemed so insignificant, but served its purpose with a dignified pose. Two minutes later, the sun shifted and the prism of colors had their final curtain call, as that drop of water trickled down the window.

Today We Celebrate Human Rights Day!

On Human Rights Day, we pay tribute to all human rights defenders and urge everyone to get involved in the global human rights movement. Become a human rights activist for your local, national and global brothers and sisters. Sixty-Three years ago, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was created. Many people around the world do not have a voice or the freedom to express their opinions beyond their thoughts.

Let’s take a moment to thank God that we have the freedom in our country to embrace and voice our human rights in the fight for liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Celebrate Human Rights Day!



Racism in Church? It Does Exist!

It was such a tragic shock to hear about The Gulnare Freewill Baptist Church, a small church in Kentucky, voting to ban interracial couples from church services or functions, with the exception of funerals. It’s so unfortunate that although some members in the congregation did not support this ban, the message resonated loud and clear among Christians around the world who were aghast by the type of racism that continues to be prevalent in our society. However, bringing this poison inside of the church is alarming, although not surprising.

Somehow many Bible toting “Christians” manage to blot out and ignore critical mandates outlined and explained in the Bible, that we are charged to do and uphold. What happened to the voices of the Christians who sit in the corner and say nothing? I remember reading a quote by Martin Luther King, Jr. that states: “History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.”

When I think about the letters that John wrote to the seven churches, there were a number of things he warned these churches (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea) what they needed to correct, that was out of step with God. Although this is an extremely small church, this sad message resonates among the masses of Christians, non-Christians and agnostics who think it’s hard to prove whether or not God even exists. This message of racism is only one of the many atrocities that’s occurring in churches everywhere, which is ultimately chipping away and trying to destroy the foundation of our Christian belief system and existence.

How can we expect to win, if we continue to keep our mouths closed when we really need to take a stand and speak righteousness? Fortunately, as of this morning the new Pastor of Gulnare Freewill Baptist Church announced that this vote was null and void. Let’s hope and pray that all parties involved will fall to their knees, pray, forgive and overcome such tragedy. Although this small church attracted a lot of attention regarding this matter, this should make all of us take a look at what we do and say, how we behave and respond. Sadly, racism isn’t the only problem we have in our churches! Obedience holds the key!

“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” - Revelation 1:3

Beyond the Celestial View

Gazing upon a clear starry night
when all is calm except for croaking frogs
and singing crickets
from where we stand,
how far do the heavens go?
Do they reach beyond the sky’s edge
further away than we can humanly grasp?
Is the view from up there
as intriguing as the view from down here?
This panoramic sculpture of the mystical heavens
not knowing if other life forms exist
beyond this celestial environment
we simply marvel at the awesome wonders of God.

Lights in the firmament
dividing night from day
signs for seasons, days and years
casting light upon the earth
light governing the darkness
shining, twinkling, showers of heavenly bodies
wondering how they got positioned.
When you see a shooting star
do you wonder where it goes?

Under this dome of night lights
watching life forever evolve
when on the fourth day of creation
God saw that this was good
a sacred gift to sit back and enjoy.
Not to tire oneself of questioning the how’s,
when’s or why’s
just accept this for what it is
for many questions will always be asked.

When life ends for us on earth as we know it
our souls will be whisked away
to an eternal resting place
infinity beyond our inconceivable comprehension.
Maybe then, we will be able to touch the face
of these heavenly bodies in the distance
or reach beyond this celestial view
to meet our Creator from where we are.

Poem published by Kym Gordon Moore in Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit, 2009